Travelling with a light heart!
Kealkill, Ireland With such an alliterative name, you just know that wacky things are bound to take place. Seriously, try it on for size: "Kealkill. …Kealkill. KEALKILL!" (not to be confused will Killkeel in Co. Down!). Ok, got it? Now add "castle" to the mix. That's right. "Kealkill castle." And guess what there are lots …
Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland Today I met Dalene and Pete Heck of Hecktic Travels in Tralee. Dario and I had not yet visited the Dingle Peninsula, so the additional enticement of meeting up with some really cool bloggers finally nudged us into action. Unfortunately, or so we thought, the Rose of Tralee International Festival …
Beara Peninsula, Ireland I have to say, I think the Ring of Beara kicks the pants off the Ring of Kerry, which is no small feat! It's not nearly as touristy and the driving is trickier (no bus tours, I believe), with much narrower, windier roads — and it is totally worth it! Dario …
The Free Dictionary defines ethics in the following manner: eth·ic (thk) n. 1. a. A set of principles of right conduct. 1. b. A theory or a system of moral values: “An ethic of service is at war with a craving for gain” (Gregg Easterbrook). 2. ethics (used with a sing. verb) The study of …
Today's post comes to us from Marina K. Villatoro of Travel Experta. Guatemala has just risen greatly in my estimation. Drunken Mayan gods? Mystical shamans? Volcanoes and lakes? Sign me up! :D Ahhhh! Lake Atitlan Guatemala, considered one of the top ten most beautiful lakes in the world, is also home to the …
Cork, Ireland A bit of an update from TourAbsurd-land… The Cork Cycling Festival has been taking place this week. Since one of Dario's consuming passions is his upcoming website about community-powered bike sharing, we have both been a bit overwhelmed. Dario with programming and hiring graphic designers, module coders, and server security gurus; me …
Middle Atlas, Morocco One of the first things that many non-Muslims who visit Muslim countries notice are the frequent calls to prayer, known as the Adnan in Morocco (often called the adhan, as well). On our first trip to Africa (Tanzania), Dario and I were met at the hotel by a friend who'd arrived the …
Slideshow of a summer visit to Blarney Castle gardens in Ireland.
Photo of the gorgeous Europa in the Tall Ships race at Waterford, Ireland.
A visit to the holy of holies, the Cork Butter Museum. A tongue twister, too!
Pemba, Tanzania After our fabulous experience snorkeling over a coral reef on Kwale Island off Unguja, we thought continuing on Pemba was a logical extension of the adventure. Dario is lookin' mighty Italian here. You can hardly tell he's seasick! On the boat with me was Dario, our traveling companion Sean, two fellows …
Cork, Ireland I recently attended a Bloomsday celebration. It was organized by Moray of Mutantspace.ie and it was lovely! We listened to readings of passages from Ulysses, were entertained by traditional Irish songs that had been featured in the book, and enjoyed a Joycean meal of red wine, gorgonzola, and bread. (In previous years they'd …
Cork, Ireland – 3:45 a.m. I love CouchSurfing. It has changed my life in so many incredible ways I can't begin to count. One of the best parts of it is that, despite — and I say this vehemently — not being a dating site, I met my luscious hubby through CS. No, it was …
Cork, Ireland I was walking along the River Lee with Dario, enjoying the fresh air and taking in the sight of beautiful swans on the river, while making sure to stay clear of the runners on the path. As we approached the Mardyke Bridge, we heard singing. The wonderful voice you hear belongs to Rory …
Luxor, Egypt Known in ancient times as Thebes, Luxor has two major temples that have survived into modern times: Karnak and Luxor. Quite the light show. Quite the people show, too! We visited Karnak Temple during the day and Luxor Temple at night. We were a bit rushed in both places, as we were …
Rissani, Morocco One of the truisms of travel is that experiences that frustrate, irritate, or scare the buhjayzus out of you when they happen turn into the best stories later. This was one of those times. Grab a cup of sweetened mint tea, sit back, and have a read. Rachid and I took …
A beautiful grave marker in Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland.
Redwood forest, California, USA We woke up in our tent among the redwoods, continued south toward San Francisco, and stopped to see a few quintessentally American attractions. Dario's first visit to the US simply had to include a visit to something silly and uniquely American! Since we would not be passing through the midwest on …